➟ Some auction scams tempt victims to send money for
promised items and then deliver nothing — or items
far less valuable than the promised items.➟ Another ploy is overpaying for an item. In this sce-
nario,a criminal buys an item from you with a check
for a larger amount than the item’s value and asks
you to reimburse the difference. It’s only after you’ve
shipped the goods and refunded the difference that
you discover the check bounces and the criminal gets
away with your property and your cash.➟ Be particularly careful with international sellers. If
something goes wrong in one of these transactions,
there’s very little that can be done to help you get
your funds or goods back.262
Part III: Protecting Your Wealth and Your Health